Brouwerij Westvleteren Westvleteren 8

What the brewers say

The monks of Sint-Sixtus Abbey of Westvleteren resolutely maintain a vow of silence about their beers.

What our panel thought

Aroma: “Plenty of enticing fruit esters like plum, banana, a little crisp apple (not green), and a smidge of bubblegum, (but gourmet bubblegum), maybe a touch of citrus, pear, and white grapes. Medium biscuit malt base. As it warms, less apple and more low banana and a bread-like sweetness.”

Overall: “Assertive, almost aggressive, but with so much flavor that you have to love it. Ester profile is classic, with some bananas blending with the fresher notes. The finish is dry and the malt character is rich and well developed. A great take on a dubbel, more classic than creative. Hops play virtually no role, but carbonic acid is definitely its own ingredient in this effervescent riff on the style.”